It is vital that horse owners worm their horses regularly on a set schedule, targeting the correct worms according to the season and with the right dosage of medicine appropriate for the horse’s size and breed. A veterinarian can advise owners of which horse wormers to use on their equine animals.
What Happens if Horses Get Worms?
Horses that are plagued by untreated worms can be in danger of having their internal organs permanently damaged. Symptoms of worm infestation include loss of conditioning with ribs being more pronounced, lethargy, weight loss, colic, diarrhea, loss of appetite and a dull coat. Horses with these symptoms should be checked by a veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis of worms through either a blood test or a fecal egg count. The vet will identify the types of worms infesting the horse and prescribe the proper remedy.
What Kind of Worms Plague Equine?
The most common types of worms that can infest horses are blood or red worms known as strongyles, roundworms which are also called ascarids, tapeworms, and bots also known as warbles. Blood, red, and roundworms enter the horse through contaminated grass or hay and migrate through the internal organs causing severe attacks of colic. Tapeworms enter the horse by attaching to mites and they can cause gut inflammation or even obstruction. Bots or warbles are fly eggs that enter the horse through the mouth or nose. They migrate to the stomach, attach to the lining and cause the horse to have digestive problems. Different types of horse wormers are needed to treat different worms.
How Can Worms Be Prevented?
Putting horse worming programme in place in which horse wormers are administered on a regular basis is the best way to prevent worm infestations. The Pet Medicine Company carries most brands of wormers for horses and can recommend a schedule which can be approved by the veterinarian. In general, February is the month to treat for redworms and March is the month to treat for tapeworms in most horses. April through August typically requires treatments for small redworms, large strongyles, hairworms and lungworms while September through October brings a return of tapeworms. Redworms and migrating strongyles come back in November while Bots emerge in December and January.
Which Medicines do Horses need for Worm Treatment?
A qualified large animal veterinarian can advise horse owners as to what kinds of horse wormers their animals need to restore their health. There are a few sites on the internet which sell horse wormers at good prices including The Pet Medicine Company who supply excellent brands of chemical medicines including Panacur, Telmin, Zerofen, Pyratape-P, Strongid-P, Eqvalan, Bimectin, Eraquell and Equest. Veterinarians recommend that horse owners change medications every year so that the infecting worms do not build up a resistance to the medicines. It is always best to confirm with the vet the active ingredient in the medicine and the correct dosage for each horse. Also, special instructions are needed for pregnant mares and foals.
If you are ever unsure of anything relating to your horses health, visit your vet who will be able to give you the best advice.
Thank you Lucy-Anne for this post.
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